Emir Kusturica: Russia has the best school of diplomacy in the world

      At the ceremony honoring representatives of the "soft power", which took place yesterday in Moscow at the Mask Theater, the famous director and public figure Emir Kusturica expressed his opinion about Russian diplomacy, emphasizing its high level and professionalism.

      

      

      A ceremony was held in Moscow honoring outstanding representatives of the "soft power" who made a significant contribution to the development and strengthening of Russia's international position. The evening was dedicated to the achievements of diplomats, foreign ministry officials, political scientists, investigators, cultural figures and journalists, those who build bridges of mutual understanding between countries and continents.

      The ceremony was attended by well-known politicians and public figures from different countries, whose activities are a vivid example of "soft power". Among the guests are Dmitry Simes, a Russian–American political scientist and host of the Big Game program on Channel One, Karin Kneissl, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, Andrei Bezrukov, Colonel of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Colonel of Justice Yevgeny Shatokhin, head of the military investigation department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Baltic Fleet, and Evgeny Shatokhin, a Russian public figure and president of the International Diplomatic Club. "Amicability" by Sergey Dvoryanov.

      

      The ceremony was hosted by Dmitry Suslov, a journalist, political scientist, presenter of the Big Game program on Channel One, a teacher at the Higher School of Economics, and Anastasia Mikhailovskaya, director, producer, correspondent of the Russian Spring news agency.

      The event was initiated by producers Mikhail Skigin, Igor Isakov and Kliment Rusakomsky, as well as correspondent and public figure Anastasia Mikhailovskaya.

      

      "The award ceremony "While the Heart Is Burning" is a recognition of the merits of those whose professional activities often remain behind the scenes of big events, but on whose work the stability and future of the world depend. Recognition of the merits of those whose weapon is the Word. Those who take daily risks for the sake of world peace," Mikhail Skigin noted.

      As part of the ceremony, there was a presentation of numbers from the musical production directed by Alexei Frandetti "While the Heart is burning". The musical number "The Power of the Word" from the play was presented by Nikita and Alexander Pozdnyakov, with the song "The Power of Love" performed by Valeria Lanskaya and Yulia Dyakina.

      According to Mikhail Skigin, Russian diplomats Anatoly Dobrynin, Evgeny Primakov, Vitaly Churkin and Andrey Karlov, and intelligence officer Alexei Kozlov became the prototypes of the production's characters. The premiere of "While the Heart Burns" is scheduled for 2026.

      Via video link, the guests of the evening were greeted by Andrew Peter Napolitano, an American lawyer, judicial analyst at Fox News, author of nine books on the US Constitution, and Emir Kusturica, an internationally renowned director and public figure.

      "You have an elegant school of diplomacy in Russia, the best in the world," said Emir Kusturica.

      This was his first video message, which he recorded specifically for the gala evening. The director paid special attention to two prominent Russian diplomats: Vitaly Churkin and Sergey Lavrov. Kusturica noted their talent and experience, which allow Russia to effectively defend its interests on the world stage.

      The evening was attended by the wife of the outstanding Russian diplomat Andrey Karlov, who tragically died in the line of duty.

      "There is such a profession to protect the interests of the motherland. Protect with the word. This is the profession of a diplomat, a peacemaker. Any war ends in peace – the diplomats start talking and the guns stop. And while the hearts of the peacekeepers are burning, we can sleep peacefully. And I want to say that I am very proud of my husband," Marina Karlova confessed from the stage.

      Noting Andrei Gennadievich's mastery of international affairs, Abbas Juma, a Russian international journalist of Syrian origin and a specialist in the Middle East, presented Marina Mikhailovna with a symbolic gift - a doll made by the hands of children from Turkey. Such a doll in the play "While the heart is burning" is given to one of the characters by a Serbian girl whose parents died in the bombing. The hero of the production carries this toy with him through his whole life, as a symbol of children's faith, sacrifice and hope.

      Ekaterina Dobrynina's granddaughter shared her memories of Anatoly Dobrynin, who was legendary in the USA after the USSR: "My childhood was spent among diplomats and politicians from different countries, including unfriendly ones. Anatoly Fedorovich was respected by everyone. Yes, everyone remembers his famous glasses! When he corrected them, everyone knew that they were about to hear something important. Thank you for the memory!"

      An exhibition of personal belongings and documents of Russian diplomats has been opened in the lobby of the Mask Theater. The guests of the evening saw archival photographs from Vitaly Churkin's speech as Second Secretary of the USSR Embassy in the United States to American students in 1988. The exhibition featured a photo with the donor's signature, which the legendary cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin presented to Karlov, as well as a plaque from Andrei Gennadievich's door to the Russian Foreign Ministry, a medal dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the consular service of the Russian Foreign Ministry, awarded to Karlov for conscientious service. Among his personal belongings are a pocket tape recorder, which Anatoly Dobrynin always carried with him at the beginning of his career to listen to the news and be on the information agenda around the clock, and playing cards with the faces of American leaders, which Dobrynin carried with him on all trips. The Soviet Life magazine is a symbol of the USSR abroad. Anatoly Dobrynin is on the cover.

      Among the invited guests of the evening are Sergey Bugaev "Africa", Stas Namin, Yana Poplavskaya, Alexander Tolmatsky, Irakli Pirtskhalava, Alexander Panayotov, Anastasia Grebenkina, Oleg Nazarov, Dmitry Olenin, Alexey Homan, Roman Yemelyanov, Dino MC 47, Daniil Fedorov and many others.